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Chapter 690, a personal Review by Ukimix

This is a long personal review of chapter 690. It's personal because it goes much more into some few theories than into objective descriptions. In spite of it, I hope you enjoy it.

This chapter has surprised us with this scene:

And it makes us wonder about two things between many other ones. I will begin with this one: if that happened, why Law couldn’t beat him the first time they fought?

Vergo's formidable haki? No, Law's fomidable devil fruit!

Now it is confirmed: Law was under Vergo’s attack over his heart all the time they fought for the first time. In that fight, he lacked the enough strength to do what he did in this chapter, and he only had enough strength for some not as devastating attacks.

To be sure, it is important to understand how Law could cut Vergo as he just did. Lets recall what Silver Rayleigh has explained about Armament haki.

15
Rayleigh: When facing a Devil Fruit user, other than taking advantage of their individual weaknesses... / ...this "Armament Haki" is the sole method of effectively combating their abilities...!! // With it, even the fluid bodies of the near-invincible Logia Fruit users... / ...can be forced into solidity...!!!
Luffy: So this is why you could touch Kizaru...! / Then I'd be able to attack old Smokey from the Marines... / ...or even on Aokiji, right?
Rayleigh: ......... // Have you ever witnessed the bowmanship of the Kuja tribe? / This power can even be extended to the weapons one wields.

One important point is that the explanation doesn’t say that Armament haki is something like an invincible armour. It doesn’t say: “nobody will be able to damage you”. So, as a defensive shield, armament haki is not an absolute defense, has levels and, therefore, can be broken under the right conditions. Since, Law was beaten in the past by Vergo, and since Devil fruit powers can be developed and improved, we can assume that Law improved his Devil fruit powers to the point to be able to break Vergo’s formidable armament haki. No further explanation is required, and that explains pretty well the interaction between armament haki and devil fruit power we have seen in this chapter.

Law’s plan

Now this chapter offer valuable information to understand Law’s plan. This is the second thin I wonder about with that scene: if Law cut Vergo and the island in that way he did, why this dialogue occurs?

Let me rewrite the question it this way:

If Law had that level of power when he arrived to Punk Hazard,

if he knew SAD was produced there,

if he knew what use was given to SAD,

if he knew Ceasar was the man producing it,

…then that dialogue wouldn’t have sense at all. Because in that case, he simply had to take the island and kidnap Ceasar with his really impressive power. Why to spend time in presentations and in helping people that lost part of their bodies and in guarding Caesar, only to look for what he already knew?

So I think, some of these numerated assumptions have to be false. But, which one(s)? For sure, the first one was a matter of fact. So, in order to succeed with his plan, what Law didn't have when he arrived to Punk Hazard was knowledge, not power. It was some kind of knowledge that was convenient or necessary to have before taking the island.

Therefore, what did Law know and what he didn't when he arrived? Let’s begin with the assumption (2): did Law knew about the SAD and that it was produced in Punk Hazard? Here we have to step back even further, to this moment:

According to what Vergo said when he figured out what was Law looking for, we can understand that Law wanted the War lord title "just to reach" SAD production room. Also, when they met again, Vergo speaks about SAD tanker to Law in such a familiar way that we would have to assume that Law knew that something called SAD was load in something called SAD tanker: “I was just in Dress Rosa, you see. And SAD tanker was leaving so I rode here.”. So, assumption (2) would be right. Law knew that SAD was produced there and that there were SAD tankers taking it to somewhere else (possibly to Dress Rosa…).

Did he know that the production island was Punk Hazard? Although we should have to be careful to take as a true what he says when he is introducing himself to Ceasar, he says that it was extremely hard to find Punk Hazard, so we may assume that he knew it.

Now, did Law knew how is SAD used (assumption 3)? Law is a smart guy. And to cut 100 hearts to become a War lord is not a small step. In a wild place the New World, with the powers involved, you have to be sure that the payback is worth enough to take such a step. But, it could happen that in the beginning Law just wanted to ruin Doflamingo’s organization by stopping the SAD production: given their common past, he knows that for some reason SAD is an important business for many powerful people in the New World, included Doflamingo; and later, in his search inside Punk Hazard, he discovers (i) that the SAD was used to produce the smiles fruit and also (ii) what Ceasar boast about when he talked to Luffy, namely: that according to a rumor among the organization, smiles were being used by a Yonkou to create an army. With such an important information, he decides to change his initial plan to ruin Doflamingo to a plan to take down a Yonkou.

On the other hand, it could happen that, from the very beginning, his plan was to take down that Yonkou that is creating an army with Doflamingo’s smiles. We still don’t have the knowledge to decide between those two alternatives.

War Lord title, a step in the plan?

In both cases, War Lord title should have to be used to open a way to the SAD production factory. But how to have that title could open that way? I don’t know. But let me offer some possible and believable situation in which that move fits as a step in Law’s plan.

Of course, Law doesn’t want to be a War Lord as his ultimate goal. And he used the title to approach the SAD factory. Who has to swallow that bone? Doflamingo and his organization, given the fact that the SAD is Doflamingo’s property. But why would Doflamingo and his mates swallow that bone, and what effect would produce in them the fact that Law gets that position?

Lets take in account what we know about the relationship between Doflamingo and Law and, mainly, the attitude shown to Doflamingo and his crew to Law. Law was a former member. Later he became a Super Nova, with his own crew and his own business. According to Doflamingo’s speech and to the things that his subordinates says about Law, it seems they was in some sense wishing or expecting that Law returned to their crew or at least that he took a position approved by them:

6-7
Doflamingo: Just like I figured!! Fuffuffu!!!
[Box: The New World, Dresrosa]
Doflamingo: And after I watched over him all these years as he grew up!! Thought of him like my own little brother...!!
[Text: Royal Shichibukai / Donquixote Doflamingo / (Underworld Broker "Joker")]
Doflamingo: I'm quite disappointed.
Vergo: Oh, I understand.
Doflamingo: So... The SAD Production Room, eh......?!!

8
Doflamingo: Now what would I do if I were him...? I think first of all... // ...I'd destroy the room completely!!!
Baby5: Hahhh... // Hahh...
Doflamingo: !!!

9
Baby5: *pant* // *pant*...
Doflamingo: Then I guess kidnapping Caesar comes next... // Actually, if it was me, I'd murder him too...!! // After all, Caesar is...
Baby5: *sniff* / *hic*...
Doflamingo: ...the only man in the world... // ...who knows how to create the SAD. // But if he were to do a thing like that... // I'd be the one in a fix, you know, Vergo...!! // And when I'm in a fix, you know what happens next...?
FatPerson: Oiiiiiing~~!

10
FatPerson: Cool your head-oing, Baby 5. What way is this to treat the young master-oing?
Baby5: This time, of all times, I will not forgive him!! I'll slaughter this piece of scum where he stands!!!
FatPerson: ...But yes, what does happen next?
OldDude: .........
Doflamingo: I'll tell you what happens!! Fuffuffuffuffu!!! The chain of suffering continues!!
TerrifyingWoman: So what are your plans then, young master? / For that adorable Master Law.
OldDude: Do you even need to ask?! The man has rebelled against us outright!!! Isn't that right, young master...?!!
Doflamingo: I'm sure it will pain you to do this, Vergo... / ...but I'm afraid you'll have to kill him. // Make sure Law's death is so brutal... // ...he'll wish he had never been born!!!

By this moment Doflamingo and his crew knows long time ago that Law is a War Lord. Now they seems to show affection and care for him and they show themselves disappointed by the fact that he’s trying to stop SAD production: that is a rebellion, but to get the War Lord position is not.

Doflamingo doesn’t want to turn the world into a chaos. Instead of that he wants to preserve the peace, as Law has spited out in this chapter. And precisely that is what War Lords are for: for preserving certain status quo. So, that could be the point of rupture between Law and Doflamingo. I imagine here Doflamino trying to control his subordinate by convincing him that to be a member of a War Lord was the best chance he had in a world ruled by the Yonkou, and Law thinking that being a War Lord was not something to be proud or something big enough, etc. In such a scenario, and after the breaking off, to get a War Lord position would be something like a wink, a gesture of sympathy, a sign that he comes back with a position that allow him to work again on the same line than his former captain. But in practical terms, as a step of his plan, this is a way to gain some time for his research in Punk Hazard, some time to approach the SAD room production quietly.

Law warned Caesar about not telling Joker that he was in Punk Hazard, yes. But he knew Caesar was going to tell him. If, in that moment, Law would not be a War Lord, maybe his arrival could be taken as a potential threat. But, thanks to the fact that Law got that position as a War Lord, Doflamingo doubts, and is trying to understand what is Law doing: “So.. The SAD room, eh…..?”... That is the best scenario I can imagine to make of the fact that Law get the War Lord title, a believable step of his plan.

Finally, with all this rationale, one thing that Law didn’t know when he arrived to Punk Hazard was that CC was the guy behind the SAD production (assumption 4): notice, in the flashback above quoted, they talk as if it were the first time they met.

Now, with that overview on mind, it’s understandable why Vergo was a miscalculation in Law’s plan. He didn’t expect in any way that the powerful Vergo would come to the island. He took the risk to gave his heart, but he couldn’t imagine that his heart was going to be in the hands of someone as powerful as Vergo. But, in the end that miscalculation was caused by Luffy, since if Luffy the user of CoC wouldn’t arrive, Doflamingo wouldn’t send Vergo to Punk Hazard.

One last thing about Law’s plan. I really don’t understand why he wants to kidnap Caesar, and instead of that simply eliminate him. The point is that it will be always a risk to have Caesar chained with sea stone. And it would be much more safe simple to have him dead. Here you can say that in One Piece good guys never kill anybody, but I think that if that is the reason, then the story wouldn’t be believable. Even more if Law can remove the hearts of 100 guys to be able to prevent that the man that can produce SAD never won’t produce it anymore. That simply doesn’t make sense. I would really like that Law’s plan would include some little and useful plan for Caesar. That’s all in regards to what this chapter allow us to think about Law’s plan.

The Yonkou

About it I only say that if the Yonkou threaten with the stopping of SAD production is not Big Mom, then this panel, with the gear in between, and in the middle of Law’s speech about his plan, is bad drawn:

Luffy, the filler

Let’s suppose that it takes two more chapters, 10 more punches, and 6 crazy marvelous Caesar faces (I love them) more to reach the moment in which Luffy, finally, beats Caesar. If in all those hypothetic panels, Caesar doesn’t spit out another valuable information, used by the plot in some unsuspected way, or if all those panels doesn’t put Caesar or/and Luffy in an unsuspected position useful for the plot, then the practical result of their fight would be the same than we would have if the punch of the previous chapter would be the last and definitive one. That has a name. I'n not sure which one it is in english. In spanish we call it "relleno": unnecessary chapters or episodes for the development of the plot. I suppose it is filler scenes. Anyhow, as I wrote in the thread, in this arc Luffy doesn’t look stupid anymore, now he looks inept.

But I cherish this prediction: if the relationship between Law and Doflamingo is the one portrayed above, I predict that Doflamingo will beat Law, while Luffy tries to pull out his foot of some unexpected hole in the floor, and after that, Luffy will beat Doflamingo in a delightful and epic fight.

That’s all, people.

Credits: Batoto and Mangarule for the pics, cnet128 for the quoted passages.

Re: Chapter 690, a personal Review by Ukimix

Very nice analysis. I liked it. But, I was wondering, and I realize that no one but Oda knwos the answer to this, but couldn't part of the answer for Law cutting Vergo also be that he developed his own Busoshoku? After all, we know Sanji has Busoshoku, and we know that there are different levels (Joker mentions how Vergo is good at it I think and Sanji who has Busoshoku gets hurt). So, couldn't part of the answer be that, not only did he develop his DF powers (he cut the entire mountain!) but also that he developed his Haki?

Re: Chapter 690, a personal Review by Ukimix

Originally Posted by Apsire

Very nice analysis. I liked it. But, I was wondering, and I realize that no one but Oda knwos the answer to this, but couldn't part of the answer for Law cutting Vergo also be that he developed his own Busoshoku? After all, we know Sanji has Busoshoku, and we know that there are different levels (Joker mentions how Vergo is good at it I think and Sanji who has Busoshoku gets hurt). So, couldn't part of the answer be that, not only did he develop his DF powers (he cut the entire mountain!) but also that he developed his Haki?

Yes it could be. But if that happened, then you need further clarifications like, why armament haki is drawn with different colors: sometimes with a dark one, other ones with out it. Since we ignore all about it, I prefer the simplest and old explanations. But it is possible what you mention.

Re: Chapter 690, a personal Review by Ukimix

I've finally read your review. That's a good point you have when you say there has to be something which explains that Law didn't do anything until Luffy eventually reached the island. Since the log pose does not react to Punk Hazard, Law wasn't expecting anyone to come to the island, so he was waiting for something before acting. Luffy's miracle coming probably happened at a good time when he had most of what he needed before acting.

Law's situation have changed since he had come to the island. He probably did some research but it was all about SAD and smile, and not about governmental projects at all. He may have been collecting data on the many-tentacled smile business, so that he could know who would get affected by the loss of the SAD industry. Knowledge is power : Law needed to know everything about smile business before playing anything.

You said he may have taken the Warlord title so that Joker let him stay in Punk Hazard. I'm not sure Law knew Joker was abreast of his presence on the island. I remember Law asking Vergo after their meeting since when did they know, and Vergo answering that it was from the beginning - Law was totally shocked, that's logic since he had just discovered they knew about him.

I'd better say that Law became a Warlord so that he could reach Punk Hazard. He did tell Ceasar how difficult it was to reach the island. He probably used some marine intel to locale Punk Hazard in the New World. Of course, he could have tried to follow some SAD tanker from Dressrosa to Punk Hazard, but I think he remembered the last time he and Vergo had a fight, as Doflamingo underlined it himself, so he did not try turning around his former captain's crew. Plus, he had to reach Punk Hazard secretly, following Doflamingo's tanker wouldn't seem the best way.

Re: Chapter 690, a personal Review by Ukimix

Originally Posted by Lord Rayleigh

You said he may have taken the Warlord title so that Joker let him stay in Punk Hazard. I'm not sure Law knew Joker was abreast of his presence on the island. I remember Law asking Vergo after their meeting since when did they know, and Vergo answering that it was from the beginning - Law was totally shocked, that's logic since he had just discovered they knew about him.

I'd better say that Law became a Warlord so that he could reach Punk Hazard. He did tell Ceasar how difficult it was to reach the island. He probably used some marine intel to locale Punk Hazard in the New World. Of course, he could have tried to follow some SAD tanker from Dressrosa to Punk Hazard, but I think he remembered the last time he and Vergo had a fight, as Doflamingo underlined it himself, so he did not try turning around his former captain's crew. Plus, he had to reach Punk Hazard secretly, following Doflamingo's tanker wouldn't seem the best way.

Thanks a lot for reading and for writing about this review. I appreciate it so much!! :-)

I like your idea that the reason why Law get the Warlord title was to be able to get information in order to locate the not traceable Punk Hazard. It matches pretty well with the rest of the plan.

I think Law was shocked when he met Vergo because of his presence, not because he were aware of his presence in PH from the beginning. Also, notice that Law didn't ask Vergo since when did they know about him in the island. Here all the dialogue:

17
Law: Urghh............!!! // *pant*... / *pant*......!! // What the hell... *pant*... are you doing here......?!!!
MysteryFigure: .........
Moné: Ahahah...
MysteryFigure: How many years has it been...? // How you've grown, Law.
Law: !!!
[Insert text: Who is this person who seems to know Law...?!]

Chapter 672
2
[Insert text: Who in the world...?!]
Vergo: Did you honestly think that he was not aware of anything?
Law: *pant*... *pant*...
[Box: Mystery Man / Vergo]
Vergo: We do not trust Caesar any more than you. // That is why he meticulously ensured that Moné work her way into his innermost circle.

3
Vergo: I hear you are one of the Royal Shichibukai nowadays... // How far you have risen.
Law: How long have you been here?! Vergo...!!!
Vergo: Oh, I only just arrived... // I happened to be on Dresrosa, you see... / ...and I heard that an SAD tanker was due to set sail. / It seems I was right to board it.
Law: *pant*......... *pant*...!! / What's that supposed to mean...?!! / *pant* // What have I done to harm your people?!!
Vergo: If you had already caused us harm, then you would not be living right now. / But you should learn that keeping secrets from adults is fruitless, Law. The truth always comes out.
Law: !! // ...............!!! / ...In that case... I'll just have to dispose of you right now!!!

Re: Chapter 690, a personal Review by Ukimix

He indeed did not ask Vergo how long did they know about his presence. Anyway, to me Vergo's words seems to imply Law did not had any idea they knew about him being in Punk Hazard. That's why Vergo explained about Monet being their agent and saying there was no point hidding anything from them.

Vergo: Did you honestly think that he was not aware of anything?
Law: *pant*... *pant*...
[Box: Mystery Man / Vergo]
Vergo: We do not trust Caesar any more than you. // That is why he meticulously ensured that Moné work her way into his innermost circle.

3
Vergo: I hear you are one of the Royal Shichibukai nowadays... // How far you have risen.
Law: How long have you been here?! Vergo...!!!
Vergo: Oh, I only just arrived... // I happened to be on Dresrosa, you see... / ...and I heard that an SAD tanker was due to set sail. / It seems I was right to board it.
Law: *pant*......... *pant*...!! / What's that supposed to mean...?!! / *pant* // What have I done to harm your people?!!
Vergo: If you had already caused us harm, then you would not be living right now. / But you should learn that keeping secrets from adults is fruitless, Law. The truth always comes out.

Doflamingo being the son of one of the Gorusei would be an explanation to Doflamingo's particular connection with the World Government, but I guess it would contradict Doflamingo telling the man to remember that in the end he is a pirate, and I don't think it would make sense that one of the Gorusei would cover his son's actions.

All that only seemed to be about business and nothing more. Doflamingo said he could cut from the World Government once he finds the deal boring. You don't cut from your Gorusei's father. Plus, I've always thought the man higher than Sengoku was the mysterious guy himself.

By the way, I don't think it is Vegapunk since he seemed to make deals with accept helping anyone in exchange for something (Kuma, likely Kaido in the past with his mechanical winter island) and this arc showed he had some moral rectitude. I don't see Vegapunk plotting something behind some desk at Mariejois either. The mysterious guy looks like some world government apparatchik. The Young Master "title" has yet to be explained nevertheless.

Re: Chapter 690, a personal Review by Ukimix

Originally Posted by Lord Rayleigh

Doflamingo being the son of one of the Gorusei would be an explanation to Doflamingo's particular connection with the World Government, but I guess it would contradict Doflamingo telling the man to remember that in the end he is a pirate, and I don't think it would make sense that one of the Gorusei would cover his son's actions.

All that only seemed to be about business and nothing more. Doflamingo said he could cut from the World Government once he finds the deal boring. You don't cut from your Gorusei's father. Plus, I've always thought the man higher than Sengoku was the mysterious guy himself.

By the way, I don't think it is Vegapunk since he seemed to make deals with accept helping anyone in exchange for something (Kuma, likely Kaido in the past with his mechanical winter island) and this arc showed he had some moral rectitude. I don't see Vegapunk plotting something behind some desk at Mariejois either. The mysterious guy looks like some world government apparatchik. The Young Master "title" has yet to be explained nevertheless.

Yeah, you always have been wondering about who is that mysterious guy. Curiously I have always read those panels as if he were just a secretary, not the big fish. That shows how much do we know about him.

Now, I woundn't buy anything of the Gorosei. Those guys are the major criminals in the story, and for sure, they would do anything to hide, destroy or put a hand on the One Piece and Raftel. That includes to reach Raftel using legal means (marine) and to reach Raftel using illegal means (a pirate). That would open a door to the theory about Doflamingo been a son of one of them.

It's exciting to be reading a story that takes like 20 years to reveal its major secrets... Because it is as if it were part of his life. I mean it is a costume but also an special form of life: wondering for years about what will happen in a fantasy world... In some years we will know who is the mysterious guy and who are those Gorosei guys.